Method and apparatus for  dispensing a beverage  with reduced neck strain

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus for dispensing a beverage while reducing neck strain wherein a beverage is retained in a container and the flow of the beverage is limited to a pour-point. A human nose is then allowed to encroach into the volume of the container while preventing the human nose from making contact with the beverage.

BACKGROUND

It is nearly ubiquitous that beverage cups are covered by a lid in order to prevent spills. It goes without saying that the lid is attached to a cup in a manner that is essentially in the same plane as the upper circumference of the cup. There is one inevitable result of such positioning of the lid. In order to drink the last few sips of the beverage, the cup must be turned bottom side up. Because the lid is in the same plane as the upper circumference of the cup, the person drinking the beverage must tilt their head backward. This causes undue stress on the neck.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Several alternative embodiments will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings and figures, wherein like numerals denote like elements, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a flow diagram that depicts several example methods for dispensing a beverage while reducing neck strain;

FIG. 2 is a flow diagram that depicts one alternative example method for dispensing a beverage that provides for extending a volume of a container;

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram that depicts one example alternative method for reducing the likelihood of beverage emanating from the container at the pour-point to make contact with a human nose;

FIGS. 4 through 6 are flow diagrams that depict various alternative example methods for attaching a lid to a container;

FIG. 7 is a pictorial diagram that depicts the outer portion of a lid that embodies a method of dispensing a beverage while reducing neck strain;

FIG. 8 is a pictorial diagram that depicts the inner portion of a lid that embodies an alternative method of dispensing a beverage while reducing neck strain;

FIGS. 9 through 11 are pictorial diagrams that depict the profile of a lid that includes a various holding mechanisms; and

FIG. 12 is a pictorial diagram of a lid that provides for an extended volume of a container.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is a flow diagram that depicts several example methods for dispensing a beverage while reducing neck strain. As can be appreciated, this example method comprises a first step of preventing a beverage from spilling out of a container (step 10). A container, according to various illustrative use cases, comprises at least one of a hot-container cup and a cold-container cup. A hot-container cup, according to one alternative use case, comprises a coffee cup that is fabricated from moisture tolerant paper. In another alternative use case, the coffee cup is fabricated from a heat-tolerant plastic. In the case of a cold-up, one illustrative use cases provided for using a container that is made of a wax-coated paper cup.

It should be appreciated that the method herein described, and the claims appended hereto, are not to be limited in application to any particular type of container. Furthermore, the present method may be applied regardless of the shape of the container. For example, one illustrative use case provides for application of the present example method to a container that is round. In yet another illustrative use case, the present example method is applied to dispense a beverage from an oblong or square container.

The example method further comprises the step of limiting the flow of the beverage to a pour-point (step 15). The pour-point is typically disposed near the outer perimeter of a container that is used to contain the beverage. In a typical embodiment, the pour-point comprises an orifice in a lid that is attached to the container. In order to alleviate neck strain, the present example method further allows a human nose to encroach into the volume of the container while preventing the beverage contained therein to contact the nose (step 20).

FIG. 2 is a flow diagram that depicts one alternative example method for dispensing a beverage that provides for extending a volume of a container. In this example alternative method, the volume of the container is extended so that the accommodation for a human nose if made in a volume that is not coincident with the volume of the volume of the container itself (step 30). For example, one embodiment of a lid is extended upward from the cavity that forms the volume of the container.

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram that depicts one example alternative method for reducing the likelihood of beverage emanating from the container at the pour-point to make contact with a human nose. In this example alternative method, a portion of the beverage that emanates from the container at the pour-point is caught, or otherwise prevented from making contact with the human nose (step 35). In one alternative example method, this is done by establishing at least a partial barrier between the pour-point and a cavity that accommodates a human nose.

FIGS. 4 through 6 are flow diagrams that depict various alternative example methods for attaching a lid to a container. In one alternative example method, dispensing a beverage while reducing neck strain further comprises snapping a covering onto a container (step 40). In yet another example alternative method, a covering is attached to a container by means of a threaded, or “screw-on” interface (step 45). And in yet another alternative example method, a lid is held in place on a container by means of friction (step 50).

FIG. 7 is a pictorial diagram that depicts the outer portion of a lid that embodies a method of dispensing a beverage while reducing neck strain. In this example embodiment, a lid 132 comprises an outer perimeter 138. Included in the lid 132 is an orifice 140 situated proximate to the outer perimeter 138. In this example embodiment, the lid 132 includes a concave depression, which is referred to as the nose cavity 130. The internal volume of the nose cavity 130 is roughly equivalent in shape to the shape of a human nose. It should be appreciated that the nose cavity 130 is a depression that intrudes into the volume of a container upon which the lid 132 is attached. The nose cavity of this example embodiment is shielded from the internal container cavity by the material that comprises the lid 132.

FIG. 8 is a pictorial diagram that depicts the inner portion of a lid that embodies an alternative method of dispensing a beverage while reducing neck strain. This pictorial diagram shows that a lid 132, in one alternative embodiment, includes a separate concave depression, referred to as a spill-catch 120. In alternative embodiment, the spill-catch 120 is formed by a dam 135 that separates the spill-catch 120 from the nose cavity 130.

FIGS. 9 through 11 are pictorial diagrams that depict the profile of a lid that includes a various holding mechanisms. In one alternative example embodiment, a lid (as shown in FIG. 9) further includes a snap-on feature 150 that interfaces with a rolled edge included in container, typically disposed at the top of the container's upper most perimeter, and affects a snap-on holding mechanism. In yet another alternative embodiment, a lid 132 (as shown in FIG. 10) further includes a threaded section 160 that interfaces with a threaded section included in a container. As such, the lid of this alternative embodiment affects a screw-on retention with a container. In should be noted that the threaded section, according to different alternative embodiments, is disposed at least on an outer surface of the lid 132 and the inner surface of the lid 132.

And in yet another alternative example embodiment (as shown in FIG. 11), the lid further includes a friction element 175 that is sized so as to provide a friction fit with a container. It should be appreciated that the friction element, as shown in FIG. 11, is disposed on the inside of the lid 132. In this case, the lid 132 surrounds the outer perimeter of the container. In yet another alternative embodiment, the friction element 175 is disposed on the outer surface of the lid 132 so as to provide a friction fit with an inside perimeter of the container.

FIG. 12 is a pictorial diagram of a lid that provides for an extended volume of a container. In this alternative example embodiment, the lid 132 includes sidewalls 133 that are extended so as to provide an extension to the volume of a container. In this case, the nose cavity 130 does not protrude beyond the extended sidewalls 133 of the lid 132.

While the present method and apparatus has been described in terms of several alternative and exemplary embodiments, it is contemplated that alternatives, modifications, permutations, and equivalents thereof will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the specification and study of the drawings. It is therefore intended that the true spirit and scope of the claims appended hereto include all such alternatives, modifications, permutations, and equivalents. 

1. A method for dispensing a beverage with reduced neck strain comprising: preventing a beverage from spilling out of a container; limiting the flow of the beverage from the container to a pour point near the perimeter of the container; and allowing a human nose to encroach into the volume of the container while preventing the beverage from making contact with the human nose.
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein allowing a human nose to encroach into the volume of the container comprises allowing the human nose to encroach into an extended volume of the container.
 3. The method of claim 1 further comprising catching a portion of the beverage as it emanates from the pour point so as to preclude contact with the human nose.
 4. The method of claim 1 wherein preventing a beverage from spilling out of a container comprises snapping a covering onto a container.
 5. The method of claim 1 wherein preventing a beverage from spilling out of a container comprises screwing a covering onto a container.
 6. The method of claim 1 wherein preventing a beverage from spilling out of a container comprises holding a covering on a vessel by container.
 7. A lid for a container comprising: outer perimeter; orifice disposed proximate to the outer perimeter; and nose cavity protruding inward toward a container that to which the lid is attached.
 8. The lid of claim 7 further comprising a volume extension that extends the volume of a container by at least that amount so as to accommodate the nose cavity within the extended volume.
 9. The lid of claim 7 further comprising a spill-catch disposed between the orifice and the nose cavity, said spill catch being separated from the nose cavity by a dam.
 10. The lid of claim 7 further comprising a snap-on interface around the perimeter of the lid for attaching the lid to a container.
 11. The lid of claim 7 further comprising a threaded interface around the perimeter of the lid for attaching the lid to a container.
 12. The lid of claim 7 further comprising a friction interface around the perimeter of the lid for attaching the lid to a container.
 13. A means for dispensing a beverage with reduced neck strain comprising: means for preventing a beverage from spilling out of a container; means for limiting the flow of the beverage from the container to a pour point near the perimeter of the container; and means for allowing a human nose to encroach into the volume of the container while preventing the beverage from making contact with the human nose. 